Shoe-stretching device.



w. B. CRANDELILL SHOE smncnme DEV ICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15. 1915- 1,1 74,693. I Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

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A TTOR/VEYS THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, u. c

WILDER B. CRANDELL, 0F MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA.

SHOE-STRETCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. *7, 1916.

Application filed November 15, 1915. Serial No. 61,650.

new and useful Improvement in Shoe- Stretching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

One of the principal objects of my invention 18 to provide a device for softening and stretching the leather of a shoe at any point where the shoe may bind the foot of the wearer in order to relievethe pressure on the foot, the device employing means for primarily smoothing and tightening the leather to prevent its wrinkling or folding, and sec ondarily stretching the tightened area to the desired extent.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which will be extremely simple, durable, efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a shoe stretching device constructed according to my invention, showing the same as in operation, Fig. 2 represents a view in elevation thereof, partially in section. a

The invention provides primarily a U- shaped how one end of which is adapted to be extended into the shoe, and carries a recessed lug adapted to coact with a hollow cone and ball adjustably carried on the other arm of the bow, in first flattening or smoothing the area of the leather to be stretched, and then in stretching the leather and making it soft and pliable, whereby to relieve the pressure and strain upon the foot.

In carrying out my invention I provide a how 5, substantially U-shaped, on one arm 6 of which is carried an inwardly extending lug 7 having a recess 8 provided therein, the portions of the lug surrounding the recess being rounded as at 9. The opposite arm 10 is provided in alinement with the lug 7, with a threaded opening through which an externally threaded sleeve 11 extends. This sleeve at its outer end is provided with a winged head 12 whereby it may be readily manipulated, and at'its inner end is; pro-:. vided with an outwardly extending flange 13 rotatably engaging inan annular channel formed at the inner end of a hollow cone 14. The latter toward its outer end flares outwardly, and has its outer edges rounded as at 15. The diameter of the cone at its outer edge is slightly greater than the diameter of the h1g7. Turned into the threadedbore of sleeve 11 is a bolt or shaft 16 carrying a winged head 17 at its outer end, and having a ball 18 provided at its inner end and fittinginto a socket in a ball 19 arranged within the cone 14. The ball 19 is thus swivelly mounted upon the bolt or shaft 16. The ball 19 is arranged in the axis of cone 7 and immediately in alinement with the recess 8.

In operation the arm 6 of the bow is extended into the shoe, and manipulated so that the area of leather to be stretched will be engaged on its inner surface by the outer portion of lug 7, and the sleeve 11 is then turned down whereby to move the cone 14: upon the lug, thus tightening the leather upon the outer edge portions 9 of the lug, and across the recess 8. When the leather has been tightened to the desired extent, the shaft 16 is turned down to engage the ball 19 upon the area of the leather overhanging the recess 8, and as the ball is forced into the recess the leather is uniformly and gently stretched. By having the cone and ball swivelly connected with the sleeve and bolt respectively, it will follow that when these elements engage the leather they will not turn with the parts with which they are connected, but will come into play without any twisting or revolving motion.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts thereof, as do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A device of the class described comlug around the recess being rounded, a second arm provided with an opening alining with the lug, an externally and internally threaded sleeve turned into the opening, a cone swivelly connected with the sleeve at the inner end of the latter, said cone at its outer end flaring outwardly and having rounded edges, the diameter of the cone being slightly greater than the diameter of the lug, a bolt turned within the sleeve and having a ball svivelly mounted on its inner end, said ball being arranged Within the cone, and means carried by the sleeve and bolt whereby they may individually be operated.

2. A shoe stretching device comprising a bow having lug provided on one arm extending inwardly of the bow, said lug having a recess provided in its outer end,a sleeve adjustably carried by the other arm of the bow in alinement with said lug, a

hollow cone swivelly connected on the inner end of the sleeve, and being of a diameter at its outer end slightly greater than the diameter ofthe lug, a boltadjustably carried within the sleeve, a ball swivelly mounted upon the inner end ofthe bolt within the cone and in alinement with the recess provided in the lug, and means whereby the sleeve and bolt may be adjusted independently of each other.

3. A shoe stretching device comprising a bow having a lug provided on one arm ex- VVILDER B. CRANDELL.

Witnesses RALPH HULINGS, MILTON \Vnavnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fiv e'cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

